Chapter 5
Tina was sitting on Alices couch watching re runs of The Facts of Life when it occurred to her that maybe Alice was right. She and Bette did need to talk. She grabbed the phone and dialed what used to be her own phone number. She wasnt sure exactly what she would say but it would be good. It would break Bettes heart like she broke hers. She wanted Bette to feel that pain. To experience what she was feeling.

Bette: Hello?

Silence, Tina couldnt speak. Hearing Bettes voice made the pain worse.

Bette: Hello?

Tina hung up. She wasnt ready to talk to her. Not yet. She noticed that Bettes voice sounded frail and wounded. It killed Tina to hear her like that. There was a part of her, however, that relished it. She was so torn. The phone rang. Tina was frozen. She couldnt answer it. Afterall, it wasnt her phone to answer! Luckily the answering machine picked up…

Alices voice on the machine: Hi, youve reached…well, you know who youve reached, afterall you called me. Leave a message and Ill consider getting back to you.

Beep

Bette: Tina, Its me. I know you just called here, please pick up….

Tina: How did she know it was me??

Bette: I have caller ID, remember?? Anyway, pick up. I want to talk to you. I need to talk to you.
Fine if you wont pick up Ill talk to the machine. I hope you are listening…I love you Tee. I dont know why I did what I did. But it doesnt change how I feel for you. How I feel about us, and the family WE have always wanted together.

Tinas eyes welled up with tears at the thought of the family they almost had.

Bette: Tee, please. Lets talk this out. I am so worried about you. I just want to hear your voice. You could scream your head off at me, or cry, or curse until your blue in the face, but I just want to your voice….Fine. You arent going to pick up. I just want you to know that I have taken 2 weeks of from the CAC and I will be sitting at home until you call. So, please….call me. (Bette let a slight whimper escape her throat) I love you Tee.

And with that Bette hung up. Tina was now more conflicted then ever. Should she call back? What would she say? What would Bette say? What did she want Bette to say? Would this ever get better? Would Bette and Tina continue on as Bette and Tina or would they go their separate ways? Questions flooded her mind. Tina wanted to hear her voice again. She got up and pressed play on the answering machine.

Bette: Tina, Its me. I know you just called here, please pick up….

With that the door flung open and Alice walked in. She heard Bettes voice coming from the living room. She walked in to find Tina Huddled on the floor hysterical with the answering machine playing as loud as it could. Alice pressed stop.

Alice: Oh Tee. What are you doing?? Why are you torturing yourself. Go, talk to her. I can see it in your eyes that you want to. You miss her just as much as she misses you. You may never be able to forgive yourself if you dont.

Tina: I know, I know. But I feel like talking to her would make it seem like I am willing forgive HER. Which I am not so sure that I am. Or that I ever will be.

Tina looked up into Alices eyes. Something was different.

Tina: Whats wrong Al. Are you ok??

Alice: Please Im fine. Im always fine you know that.

Tina: I know you pretend to be fine. Whats going on?

Alice: Its just that ( alice paused) I think I might be in love. Only with someone I cant or shouldnt have. Anyway, You dont want to hear this *****. You have bigger things to take care of and I am going to help you through them. ( Alice regained composure. She stood up and walked toward the phone).

Tina: Listen, I know you havent told me what is going in exactly. But I have a pretty good hunch. ( Tina stood and walked to Alice. She reached around her and grabbed the phone).
Call Dana. Tell her. Tell her everything you feel for her. Don;t regret, take your own advice. If you love her, then go get her. Besides, we all know she has loved you for a long time.

If that was the truth Alice hadnt known it. Or maybe she did and just wasnt sure how to act on it. Or even if she should. She took the phone from Tina and started to walk toward her bedroom.
Half way there she stopped and turned to Tina.

Alice: Thank you. ( She reached in her purse and grabbed her cell phone.. She threw the home phone back to Tina). You might need this. Ill use my cell…

With that Alice walked into her bedroom and closed the door. She began to dial Danas number…
Tina sat on the couch and dialed Bettes.